Actuating mechanism for pressing machines



March 21, 1933. E. DAVIS AETUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING M ACHINES 7 O 4 1 z a 4 4 Z 5 4 4 M 9 5 Z a J 9 4 4 4 Z 4 U. "W 6 5 v 4 v \\\\\\\\\\\WV V "0 X 6 6 2 a 2.. 2 m M 0 I J c m 5 Z w 5 y l H 5 Z Z\.9... m 6 A n Y L. Y i m 6 z v 55 w w v 4 w J 2% 5 z a a a z 9 A J 2 a a (V mw x 7 3 J 5 IVNVENTOR. AW

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 21,

. UNITED STATESQLPA'TE TfoF icE nRlvnsr Davis, on sYRAcUsn, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY coMPaNY mc or sYRAcusE, mew YORK,

AGTUATING- MEQHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES .A\,GORPOBATION OF NEW YORK Application filed December 2, 1926, Serial No. 152,276. Renewed'November-22, 1930.

A This invention relates to means for controlling the flow of motive fluid as air to and from a fluid motor as a cylinder, and partic-- ularly to means for releasing the pressure in a single acting cylinder'where the pressure is held withinthe cylinder by automatic means. More specifically the invention relates to a power actuating mechanism for garment and laundry pressing machines where the pressure is held applied indefinitely at the will of the operator and also releasable at the will of the operator so that the press will open. The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

' In describing thisinvention reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which like characters represent corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a sectional View .partly vation of this actuating mechanism.

Figure 2 is aside elevation of a pressing machine provided with'this actuating mechanism. This actuating mechanism comprises generally a cylinder, a piston movable in. the cylinder, manually operable controlling valves to control the flow of motive fluid to in eleand from the-cylinder, automatic -.means or valves operable by the back pressure in the cylinder when the piston is at the end of its power stroke to hold the pressure in the cylinder, and manually controlled means oper-.

able by the pressure from the, main feed line for releasing the pressure in the cylinder and permitting the piston to return to its starting position and the press to open;

This actuating mechanism is here shown chine including a head 1-, which i movabletoward and from a buck 2 suitably supported a on a frame 3, thehead 1 being carried by a lever or yoke 4 pivoted between its ends at 5 to the frame 3, ands-carrying the'head 1 at its front end, and being connected tothe actuating mechanism through motion transmitting means, here shown'asincluding toggle links 6 and 7-pivoted together at 8, the link 6 being connected to'the rear arm of the lever 5o 4 and the link 7 being pivoted-to the frame as applied to a standard form of pressing (maat 9 and having aforwardly extending arm 10 to whichis connected a piston rod 11.

In the machine here illustrated the motor I is single acting, that is the piston is moved in one d1rection by power. It is moved in the other direction by counterweight 12 and countersprings 13, which act on the r'ear'a'rm" of the yoke. or lever 4 to open the press head 1.

The actuating mechanism comprises a fluid motor as a cylinder 14, a piston 15. movable in the cylinder and having its rod 11 previously referred to pivoted to thelever arm 10, the cylinder being pivotedat its upper end at 16 to the frame. The cylinder is formed with a combined intake and exhaust port 17 in its head and the piston carries a spring pressed valve 18, the stem of which telescopes into the piston rod against the action of the spring l9.- The Valve 18 partly closes the port 17 when it is seated in'said port and thus partly obstructs the intake of motive fluid as air during the starting of. the

piston, and also partly obstructs the outflow of motive fluid as air through the port 17 as the piston approaches the upper end of the cylinder. The function of this valve is to prevent sudden starting of the piston-and also the sudden stopping of the piston under the influence of the counterweight 12 and springs 13. Thisvalve 18 forms no part of this invention. I

20 designates the main ive fluid as air which is conducted to the cylinder through .a combined intake and ex'-' haust conduit, which is controlled by manually operated valve means.- The, combined intake and exhaust conduit includes a pipe 21 connected .to a chest. 22 communicating "Wi th a passage 23 lea ding to the combined intake and exhaust port 17 ,and the valve means includes a' valve casing 24 connecting the'pipe 21 and the feed pipe 20 through a coupling 25. The manually operable valve means com prises a normally closed intake valve '26 in' the casing 24, anda normally open exhaust valve 27 connected together by a stem 28 to actas'a unit, the pipe 21 leading from the casing 24 between these valves .so that when feed pipe for a mothe intake valve is open the motive fluid will pass from the feed line to the pipe 21 and chest 22 to the cylinder, and when the intake 26 are operated manually by a manual 29 "here shown as a reciprocating head or but ton movable in a guide passage 30 formed in a plate or box 31 secured to the frame 3 of the pressing machine. The motion of the push button is transferred through a lever 32, pivoted at 33 in the box 31, and having an arm 34 pressed against a lever 35, which acts on the stem 36 of the exhaust valve 27.

A spring 37 tends to move the valve 26 to its closed position and hence the exhaust valve 27 to its open position, this spring being interposed between the valve 26 and a perfo rated spring abutment 38 in the valve casing 24. The abutment is perforated to permit the air or motive fluid to -pass,therethrough. The pressure of the motive fluid also tends to hold the valve 26 closed and hence the valve 27 open;

The'automatic means operated by the back pressure in the cylinder for holding the pressure therein when the piston is at the end of its out stroke and the operator releases the handle 29, comprises a normally open, pressure operated valve 39, normally arranged on its seat in a partition 40 in the chest 22 and having a stem 41 extending outside of the chest into a pressure chamber 42, which is connected by a pipe 43 to a port 44 in the cylinder wall, the port being arranged to be proaches the end of its power stroke.

A diaphragm 45 is located in the pressure chamber and acts on the stem 41 of the valve 39. Hence when the iston uncovers the port 44, the back pressure rom the cylinder passes through the pressure chamber 42, through the pipe 43 and actuates the diaphragm 45 to close the valve 39, so that the pressure is held in the cylinder,-or the head 1 is held under pressure on the buck 2.

The pressure is released in the cylinder 14 to permit the head 1 to open bypressure operated means connected by a conduit to the main feed line 20 and controlled by-manallypperable valves insaid conduit.

normally closed exhaust valve 46 normally in the pressure chamber or cylinder 48 and connected to the stem 49 of the valve 46, the I.

cylinderbeingconnected by pipes50, 51 and valve casing 52 to the intake'pipe 20. The

uncovered by the piston as the p1ston;ap-'

Tlns pressum operated means comprises a action of the piston 47 isagainst a returning spring 53.

The manually operable means for controlling the flow of motive fluid from the pipe 20 to the cylinder 53 to open the exhaust valve 46 comprises a valve mechanism in the valve case 52 similar to the valve mechanism in the valve casing 24, this'valve mechanism consisting of a normally closed, spring pressed intake valve 54 and normally open exhaust valve 55 connected by a stem 56 to the valve 54 so that they act in a unit, the pipe 50 communicating with the casing 52 between the valves. The valves are actuated by a lever 57, pivoted at 58 and coacting with the stem 59 of the exhaust valve 55. The lever 57 is located near or grouped with the push button 29 and is supported by the box 31.

In operation to close the press the operator depresses the push button 29 into the position shown in Figure 1, so that air can pass from the main line 20 through the coupling 25,

valve casing 24, pipe 21, shaft 22, past the open valve 39 and into the cylinder 14, through the passage. 23 and port 17. After the cylinder has been actuated to the endof its power stroke, the back pressure from the cylinder passes through the port 44, pipe 43, pressure chamber 42, where it actuates the diaphragm 45 to act on the stem 41 of the valve 39 and close the valve 39-.

In order that both handsof the operator may be employed during the closing of the press, a manual or push button 60 similar to the pushbutton 29 is utilized, this push but ton 60 when operated acting to close a normally opened exhaust valve 61, the casing 62 of the valve 61 being connected by a pipe 63 to the pipe21. Obviously unless the handle 60 is depressed and at the sameetime the push button 29 is depressed, and is held depressed .as long as the push button 29, air will not flow from the pipe 20 through the pipe 21 to the chest 22, but will flow out through the pipe 63 and open exhaust valve 61. Hencein order'to close the press, both push buttons 29 -and 60 must be held depressed.

To open thepress the handle or lever .57 is operated to close the exhaust valve 55 and open the intake valve 52, so thatthe air can pass from the pipe 20 through the pipe 51, valve-casing 52, past the open intake valve 54 and out through the pipe 50 to the piston chamber 48., where it operates the piston 47 against the action of the returning-spring 53 and opensthe valve 49, so that the air can now exhaust out of the cylinder 14, through the port 17, passage 23, valve housing 22, past the valve 46 and out through the ports 64.

As the piston 15 rises and passes the port 44, it releases the pressure in the pressure chamber 42, so that the diaphragm 45 collapses, permitting the valve 39 to open.

' This'valve actuating mechanism is similar to that shown in my pending application Sr.

pressing machines, but differs principallytherefrom by the fact that the press is opened by air taken from the feed line.

' therein, a pressure chamber having a movy What I claim is I 1. An actuating mechanism comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a supply conduit system for a motive fluid connected to the cylinder and including a feed pipe and a pipe leading to the cylinder and serving as an intake and exhaust pipe, a valve casing connecting 'the' pipes, a spring returned combined intake and exhaust valve in said casing normally arranged with the intake closed and the exhaust open, manual means for operating the combined intake and exhaust valve, a normally open valve in said conduit system, pressure operated means for closing the last mentioned valve when the pistonhas traveled a predetermined distance on its power stroke, a normally closed exhaust valve in said conduit having means tending to close it, means for opening the normally closed exhaust valve including a pressure chamber having a movable member therein connected to the normally closed exhaust valve, a valve casing connected to thefeed pipe and to said pressure chamber, and a normally closed manually operable intake valve in the last mentioned casing having gmeans for normally closing it. H

2. An actuating mechanism comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a supply conduit system for a motive fluid leading to the cylinder and serving asan' intake and exhaust pipe, a spring returned combined intake and exhaust valve in the casing normally arranged with the intake closed and the exhaust open, a normally open valve in said pipe and pressure operated means controlled by the movement of the piston when the piston has traveled a. predetermined distance on its power stroke connected to said normally open valve, a normally closed exhaust valve for the cylinder having means tending to move it to its closed position, a pressure chamber having a movable member connected to the normally closed exhaust valve, a conduit connecting the pressure chamber and the supply system, said conduit having a normally closed manually operable intake valve therein and manual means for operating the combined intake and exhaust valve.

3. An actuating mechanism comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a chest connected to the intake port of the cylinder and having a normally closed exhaust valve and a normally open intake valve able member therein connected to the intake valve, the pressure chamber being connected to a port in the cylinder located to be uncovered by the" piston when the piston travels a predetermined distance on its power stroke, a supply conduit for a motive fluid connected to the chest to be controlled by the intakevalve, a spring returned manually operable combined. intake and exhaust valve in the supply conduit normally arranged with the intake closed and the exhaust open, a second pressure chamber having a movable member therein connected to the exhaust valve in said chest, and a supply pipe connected to the second pressure chamber and having a normally closed manually operable intake valve therein having means tending to close it. v

4. In combination, a pressing machine having cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for moving the v movable element comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a supply conduit system for a motive fluid connected to the cylinder and including a feed pipe and a pipe leading to the cylinder serving as an intake and exhaust pipe, a, valve casing connecting the pipes, a spring returned combined intake and exhaustvalve in said casing normally arranged with the intake closed and the exhaust open and manual means associated therewith for operating the valve, a normally open valve in said conduit system and pressure operated means for closing the last mentioned valve when the press has closed a predetermined distance and the piston has traveled a predetermined distance on its power stroke, and a second exhaust valve normally closed in said conduit system and an additional manual means for actuating said exhaust valve to open the same and exhaust the air from the cylinder. 5. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combinat-ioin cooperative pressing jaws, one of which is movable with respect to the other; operating mechanism for the movable pressing jaw including a fluid motor g control devices for the fluid motor inchidmg intake and exhaust valve means, and condu1t means controlled by sald valve means and connected with the fluid motor; normally open valve means in the conduit means'between the intake and exhaust valve means and the fluid motor ;-means controlled by the press operating mechanism, when the pressing jaws reach substantially pressing position, for closing the normally open valve 7 means to cut off the fluid motor from the intake and exhaust valve means; other ex-,

haust valve means operable to exhaust working fluid from the motor; and operator-operated control means for said other exhaust valve means.

, 6. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination cooperative pressing jaws, one of which is movable with respect V139 to the other; operating mechanism for the movable pressing jaw including a fluid motor; a combined supply and exhaust conduit connected with said fluid motor; means to control the flow of working fluid through said conduit including a valve casing containing a normally closed intake valve and a normally open exhaust valve; means tending to hold said exhaust valve in normal po;

sition; a normally. open valve in the conduit 7 between the valve casing and the fluid motor; means controlled by 'the operating mechanism for the pressing jaws, when the jaws reach substantially pressing position, for operating said valve in the conduit to close the valve and prevent the flow of working fluid through-the conduit between the fluid motor and the valve casing; other exhaust valve means operable to exhaust working fluid from the motor; and operator-operated con- .trol means for said other exhaust valve means.

In testimony signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and in the State of New York, this 29th day of September, 1926.

ERNEST DAVIS.

whereof, I have hereunto- 

